Discover the best family-friendly beach campgrounds in West Virginia

United States
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West Virginia

96% (765 reviews)

Popular camping styles for West Virginia

Dog-friendly getaways

4 top beach campgrounds in West Virginia

97%

(719)

Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Camp

36 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents35 acres · Parsons, WV

Welcome to the enchanting Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Campground, a pristine natural paradise nestled nearby the Monongahela National Forest and graced by the stunning Dry Fork River. Since our grand opening in July 2022, we've been welcoming guests year-round to explore and enjoy our 35 acres of unspoiled wilderness forest, complete with winding trails and a captivating 2100 feet of riverfront. Our diverse accommodations cater to all outdoor enthusiasts. Choose from 15 camping sites, each equipped with fire pits and slabwood benches amidst ample parking. For those seeking a rustic retreat, our 5 primitive shelter cabin sites feature cozy 10x12 lofted barn cabins, securely lockable with your padlock. RV adventurers are welcome too, with 10 picturesque near riverside spots (best suited for towed RVs up to 32 feet or drivable up to 35 feet). Four of these provide full electric and water hook-ups, while the other six offer a serene boon-docking experience. We have also recently added 2 deluxe furnished cabins, 3 large group riverfront campsites, and a bohemian bus shelter site that sleeps 8. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nearly 4 miles of wilderness riverfront, situated on a breathtaking road leading to the charming town of Parsons, WV - the heart of Tucker County and gateway to Thomas, Davis, and Canaan Valley. Your adventure starts here: kayak down the merging Dry Fork and Black Fork Rivers, stroll over to the nearby Hendricks via a charming cable suspension bridge, or explore the Fernow Experimental Forest, just a mile downstream. The surrounding Monongahela National Forest awaits with its vast, unlogged forests. Thrill-seekers and nature lovers alike will find no shortage of activities. From waterfall explorations, creek adventures, and fishing to kayaking, tubing, and hiking, there's something for everyone. Don't forget to bring your bikes, kayaks, tubes, roller blades, snorkels, goggles, and river shoes for an unforgettable outdoor experience! Our camp provides spring water spigots for general use, an office cabin with electric charging access, and clean porta-potties. Wi-Fi is available near the office cabin (password: campground19). The lovely town of Parsons, with all its conveniences, is just a 4-mile drive away. For a seamless experience, we offer online booking and self-check-in, with check-in starting at noon and designated parking spots for each campsite. Join us at Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Campground for a stay that promises tranquility, adventure, and a connection with nature like no other.

Taylors Landing Camping Club

13 sites · RVs, Tents42 acres · Sharpsburg, MD

ONLY use 16869 Taylors Landing Rd, Sharpsburg Md for your GPS directions. UPON BOOKING, PLEASE CHECK THE "ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS" FOR YOUR SITE'S SELF CHECK IN INSTRUCTIONS. Experience the beauty of this historic property, featuring a mix of woodland, grassy hilltops, and clover filled bottomlands. Come and enjoy the near direct access to the C&O Canal Historic Park and Towpath and the kid friendly, serene stretch of the Potomac River we border. Choose from 11 similar sites available for your camping pleasure in our clover filled bottomland as well as our Hilltop sites for maximum privacy, exclusivity and star gazing potential. The natural Shade/Privacy nooks will keep the midday sun off of tents and the surrounding old growth forest makes for a great hike up to a very accessible and kid friendly cave to explore. Whether you stay for a day or a month, immerse yourself in nature and enjoy the tranquil waters of the Potomac River. Throughout the summer, the river offers a user-friendly experience as water levels recede. Embark on float trips, kayaking, excellent fishing, swimming, cave exploring, or visit the historic towns and the Antietam Battlefields nearby for a touch of civilization during your stay. We have two kayaks and 4 SUP's, and numerous inner tubes on site free of charge. We have some life vests, but if you have your own, bring those along. Explore the endless miles of easy biking, hiking on the C&O Canal Towpath. Whether looking for adventure or just chill, down time, this location is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. There is limited shade in the camping areas after 2-3:00 PM depending on the time of year. We're working on large area sun shelters but haven't gotten there just yet. The river's beach is shady or filtered sun all day long. 4wd or All Wheel Drive are strongly recommended. If it's been dry, single wheel drive is fine, but if we get a hard rain the day before or during the stay, I'll possibly be pulling you up the hill a short distance to exit. Please pre-order firewood via a message to me if at all possible, so I can have it waiting for you. $30.00 buys you a long night's burn worth of all seasoned hardwood. Cash venmo paypal zelle all accepted upon arrival. PLEASE READ ARRIVAL INSTRUSTIONS CAREFULLY AFTER BOOKING!! We share a driveway with the Shepherds Springs Outdoor Ministry and want to make sure you don't pass our entrance as the only place to turn around is up at their lodge.

Camp Holly

63 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents22 acres · Addison (Webster Springs), WV

Join the fun at our 22-acre campground. We offer cabins, full-service RV sites, and back-country camping nestled in the heart of the West Virginia mountains at the confluence of the Holly River and Grassy Creek overlooking our stocked three-acre fishing pond. Conveniently located near the best outdoor recreation in Appalachia: Fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, trail riding, and climbing. Festivals and beautiful day trips on winding roads abound. Music lovers enjoy music on our pondside stage, or you can rent it for your own special event. Find an entertainment schedule and a list of amenities on our website. Kids will love our goats, chickens, ducks, paddle boats, and recreation area with a climbing dome. Visit our camp store for onsite bait + tackle, a specialty hotdog, or WV souvenir. Come relax and enjoy Camp Holly! ****Please note that in winter months the property is subject to freezing during very cold weather. This may effect water availability in the cabins and bathhouse.

Buffalo Gap Retreat and Camp

68 sites · RVs, Tents70 acres · Capon Bridge, WV

Located in the foothills of the Potomac Highlands, Buffalo Gap is a 1950s era former Mountain Kids Camp turned Retreat by a group of individuals who had a vision of creating a space where family and friends can enjoy a relaxing mountain get-away. Situated between two mountains -- Sandy Ridge and Slane's Knob -- Buffalo Gap sits in the gap between the two. Consequently, the 70 acre property is teaming with creeks and streams, along with a 1.5 acre spring fed lake, making it a peaceful and beautiful retreat from the daily stresses of life. Rent a cabin, camp, have a wedding or family reunion, enjoy our lakeview café, swim, hike, kayak, canoe, and so much more. With the nearby town of Capon Bridge just 10 minutes away and the Shenandoah Valley city of Winchester just 35 minutes, so much beauty and convenience with our riverside town and nearby bigger city for additional dining and entertainment as well as conveniences.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Family-friendly beach camping in West Virginia guide

Overview

If you’re seeking mountain vistas, you’ve come to the right place! Bound by the Appalachian Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains, West Virginia is an alpine wilderness brimming with craggy peaks, cascading waterfalls, and forested ravines. Outdoor adventures are this state’s lifeblood, whether you’re hiking the Appalachian Trail, cooling off at a mountain lake, or enjoying some of the best rock climbing and whitewater rafting in the east. The main camping season runs from spring through fall, but winter getaways are still possible—six state parks offer year-round camping, and many RV parks and cabins stay open through ski season.

Where to go

Potomac Highlands

Winding mountain roads and backcountry hiking trails lead the way through the Allegheny Mountains and the Monongahela National Forest in eastern West Virginia. Four-season adventures await at Blackwater Falls State Park and Canaan Valley Resort State Park, which harbor some of the region’s best ski slopes, while rock climbers congregate at Seneca Rocks. Further east, Harpers Ferry is the gateway to the Appalachian Trail and home to the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

Mountain Lakes

West Virginia’s central lakelands offer a welcome change of pace for campers. Pitch your tent or park your RV by Summersville, Sutton, or Stonewall Jackson lakes, and take to the water to boat, kayak, paddleboard, or fish. Encircled by forested mountains, there are still plenty of opportunities for hiking, especially at Audra and Holly River state parks.

Mid-Ohio & Metro Valleys

Victorian-era mansions and historic towns dot the banks of the Ohio River in the Mid-Ohio Valley, where campers can enjoy simple pleasures like woodland walks, river fishing, and sipping craft beer at a country pub. The 72-mile-long North Bend Rail Trail is the ultimate challenge for hikers and cyclists, and one of the most scenic sections runs through North Bend State Park. Continuing west, Charleston and Huntington are the principal towns of the Metro Valley, while the best campgrounds are hidden away in the Kanawha State Forest.

Southern West Virginia

Raging rivers, soaring cliffs, and vast swathes of wooded hills make up West Virginia’s southern region, affording endless options for adrenaline seekers. Rev up your OTV and explore 800 miles of off-road trails in the Hatfield-McCoy mountains, go mountain biking or horseback riding in Greenbrier State Forest, or check out the state’s best whitewater rafting at the New River Gorge and Gauley River National Recreation Area.